23-Jun-2000 -- Southern Alberta is grassland and wheatfields as far as the
eye can see. This confluence sits amongst rolling hills just outside of
Barons, Alberta (which boasts a 3 sheet curling complex for a 285 person
population!!) I left highway 23 near Barons, and started tracking through
the square grid of dirt roads trying to figure out which one would lead me
closest to the confluence. I had no map that showed anything beyond the
paved roads, so there was some guesswork involved. An ominous dark
cloud was building in the southwest, and the slight rumble of thunder in
the distance was heard. I still had to drive another 100 miles to Calgary that
day, so I was hoping that this confluence was going to be low hanging
fruit. Finally, after a few turns, heading south, the GPS told me that I was
about a half a mile away, and I saw that I would get no closer by car. I
parked on the correct latitude, and starting walking west toward the
confluence. A half mile through a field of grass recently harvested by some
huge farm implement (judging by the tire imprints). Not too bad of a walk,
though it was a good thing it hasn’t rained recently or the walk would
have been all mud. As I was approaching the confluence, I noticed a
barbed wire fence blocking my path at the top of a ravine. Oh well,
never as easy as it should be. However, the confluence gods
were smiling that day, as the confluence sat right at the fence line!
A few quick pictures of mostly grassland, however, the view to the
south shows Keho Lake in the distance (about 12 miles), a local recreation
area and the obvious drainage pool of much of the grasslands in the
area. The storm cloud making rumblings in the distance is also visible
in the south picture. The rest of the sky was fairly clear, however, meaning
that it was probably just a localized storm that I wouldn't have to worry about.
I think this is an "unofficial" confluence, but it was fun nontheless.